Every construction site in India — from NHAI highway packages in Rajasthan to metro rail corridors in Bangalore — depends on cranes. The right crane moves materials faster, keeps projects on schedule, and prevents the kind of delays that cost contractors lakhs every week. The wrong crane? That’s a machine sitting idle because it can’t handle the terrain, the load, or the reach your site actually needs.
This guide covers the types of cranes used across Indian construction and industrial projects. But here’s what matters: not every crane type is available for comparison and purchase through Desi Machines. For a more detailed breakdown, you can explore our complete crane buying guide — so you know exactly where you can take action.
How Many Types of Cranes Are There?
There are 12+ major types of cranes globally, but they fall into two broad categories: mobile cranes and fixed cranes. Mobile cranes move — they’re mounted on wheels, trucks, or crawler tracks. Fixed cranes stay in one place — bolted to foundations or structures.
Which category matters for your project depends on three factors: how much you’re lifting (capacity), how high or far you need to reach (height and radius), and whether the crane needs to move around the site or stay put. Most Indian construction sites use mobile cranes because of their versatility. High-rise projects in metros rely on fixed tower cranes — but those aren’t available on Desi Machines.
1. Mobile Cranes
Mobile cranes are exactly what the name suggests — cranes mounted on wheeled vehicles or crawler undercarriages that can move across a site or travel between sites. Their biggest advantage is portability. One machine can serve multiple locations on a large project, or move from site to site as work progresses.
In India, mobile cranes dominate construction, infrastructure, and industrial applications. Highway projects, factory installations, warehouse loading — mobile cranes handle it all. The most common types include pick-and-carry cranes (called Hydra cranes in India), truck-mounted cranes, all-terrain cranes, rough terrain cranes, and crawler cranes.
Types of Mobile Cranes
Mobile cranes split into several subcategories based on their undercarriage, mobility, and lifting characteristics. In the Indian market, pick-and-carry cranes are the workhorses — you’ll see them on almost every construction site. Other types like crawler cranes and all-terrain cranes handle heavier, more specialized work.
1. Hydra Crane (Pick and Carry Crane)
The Hydra crane — technically called a pick-and-carry crane — is India’s most widely used mobile crane. The name “Hydra” comes from the brand that popularized these machines, but now it’s used generically across the industry. These cranes can pick up a load, carry it while moving, and place it at a new location — all without needing to set up outriggers.
Hydra cranes in India typically range from 9 to 25 tonnes lifting capacity. The 14-tonne capacity is the most popular — it handles most construction and industrial loads while remaining maneuverable on congested sites. Farana cranes are the heavier variant, ranging from 14 to 35 tonnes, with 15-tonne and 23-tonne models being the most common.
Key specifications:
- Capacity range: 9–35 tonnes (Hydra: 9–25T, Farana: 14–35T)
- Boom type: Telescopic hydraulic boom
- Mobility: Can travel with load — no outrigger setup required for most lifts
- Common applications: Material handling at construction sites, factory loading/unloading, warehouse operations, infrastructure projects
What makes Hydra cranes dominant in India? Versatility and cost. One machine handles loading, unloading, shifting, and erecting materials. For a contractor running a PMAY housing project or a factory expansion, a Hydra crane does 80% of the lifting work without needing specialized equipment. *Paisa vasool machine hai.*
Compare Hydra and Farana crane models on Desi Machines — check specs, get transparent pricing.
2. Truck Mounted Crane
These cranes integrate a hydraulic crane onto a standard truck chassis, allowing road travel at highway speeds and quick deployment at job sites.
3. All-Terrain Crane (ATC)
These combine the road mobility of truck cranes with the off-road capability of rough terrain cranes — making them suitable for both highway travel and unprepared job sites.
4. Rough Terrain Crane (RT)
Rough terrain cranes are coming soon on Desi Machines. Built specifically for off-road conditions, these cranes feature large rubber tyres, four-wheel drive, and outriggers for stability on uneven ground — ideal for sites without prepared surfaces.
5. Crawler Crane
These heavy-duty cranes move on tracks (crawlers) instead of wheels, providing exceptional stability and the ability to work on soft or uneven terrain without outriggers. Capacities range from 50 tonnes to over 3,000 tonnes for the largest models.
2. Fixed Cranes
Fixed cranes — also called stationary cranes — are installed at a specific location and don’t move during operation. They’re anchored to concrete foundations, building structures, or rails. The trade-off for losing mobility? Higher lifting capacities and greater heights than most mobile cranes can achieve.
In India, fixed cranes are primarily used for high-rise construction in metros and heavy industrial applications. But here’s the reality for readers of this guide: most fixed crane types are not currently available on Desi Machines.
Types of Fixed Cranes
Fixed cranes include tower cranes, overhead cranes, gantry cranes, jib cranes, and several specialized variants. Each serves different applications — tower cranes for building construction, overhead cranes for factory floors, gantry cranes for shipyards and container handling.
a) Tower Cranes
Tower cranes are what you’ll usually see on high-rise sites. They stay fixed in one position and handle heavy lifting at height with solid stability.
Types of Tower Cranes
Tower crane sub-types — including hammerhead, luffing jib, and self-erecting variants — are not available on Desi Machines. For high-rise construction projects requiring tower cranes, contractors typically work directly with specialized rental companies or manufacturers.
i) Hammerhead Tower Cranes
Hammerhead cranes have a straight horizontal arm with a trolley moving loads across. They’re simple, reliable, and commonly used for standard building projects.
ii) Luffing Jib Tower Cranes
Luffing jib cranes are used where space is tight. The arm moves up and down, helping avoid obstacles on crowded city construction sites.
iii) Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Self-erecting cranes are quick to set up and easy to move. They’re ideal for smaller jobs where speed and convenience matter more than heavy lifting capacity.
What is the most common type of crane used in construction?
In India, the answer depends on the project type. For general construction — housing projects, commercial buildings under 10 floors, infrastructure work — pick-and-carry cranes (Hydra cranes) are the most common. They’re affordable, versatile, and available across the country. Every contractor knows them. Every operator can run them.
For high-rise construction in metros like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, tower cranes dominate — but those require specialized procurement outside platforms like Desi Machines. For heavy infrastructure like bridges and flyovers, crawler cranes and truck-mounted cranes handle the big lifts.
The 14-tonne Hydra crane remains India’s default choice for most construction sites. Ask any site incharge.
Which type of crane has the highest lifting capacity?
Crawler cranes hold the record for lifting capacity. The largest crawler cranes in the world can lift over 3,000 tonnes — used for installing offshore platforms, power plant components, and massive industrial structures. In India, crawler cranes commonly used on infrastructure projects range from 100 to 500 tonnes capacity.
For context: a 500-tonne crawler crane can lift the weight of approximately 250 mid-size cars in a single lift. These machines are reserved for specialized heavy-lift operations — bridge girder installation, refinery shutdowns, wind turbine erection. Not everyday construction work.
Among mobile cranes available for general construction, all-terrain cranes reach capacities of 100–500 tonnes, while truck-mounted cranes typically max out around 50–100 tonnes.
What is the difference between a tower crane and a mobile crane?
The core difference is mobility versus height. Here’s the comparison:
| Factor | Tower Crane | Mobile Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility | Fixed in one location | Moves across site or between sites |
| Height capacity | 80–265 metres (can grow with building) | Limited by boom length — typically 30–80 metres |
| Setup time | Days to weeks (foundation required) | Minutes to hours |
| Best for | High-rise buildings, long-duration projects | General construction, multiple locations |
| Cost | Higher rental + installation costs | Lower daily rates, more flexible |
Tower cranes make sense when you’re building 20+ floors and the crane will stay for 18–24 months. Mobile cranes make sense for everything else — shorter projects, lower heights, sites where the crane needs to move around. *Jaise site, waisi machine.*
How do I choose the right crane type for my project?
Five factors determine the right crane. Get these wrong and you’re either overpaying for capacity you don’t need or stuck with a machine that can’t do the job.
- Load weight: What’s the heaviest single lift? Add 20% safety margin. A 10-tonne load needs a crane rated for at least 12 tonnes at your working radius.
- Lift height: How high does the load need to go? Boom length matters — but so does the angle. A 30-metre boom at 70 degrees doesn’t reach 30 metres.
- Working radius: How far from the crane base does the load need to travel? Capacity drops dramatically as radius increases. A crane rated 25 tonnes at 3 metres might only lift 8 tonnes at 15 metres.
- Site access: Can a truck-mounted crane reach the site? Is the ground prepared for outriggers? Rough terrain or crawler cranes handle unprepared sites — but cost more.
- Project duration: Short jobs favour rental. Long projects might justify purchase. A crane sitting idle between lifts is burning money either way.
Am I overcomplicating this? Maybe. The simple version: call a crane rental company, describe your heaviest lift and site conditions, and let them recommend. But knowing these factors means you can push back if they try to upsell you a 50-tonne crane for a job that needs 20 tonnes.
What are the different types of tower cranes?
Tower cranes come in three main configurations: hammerhead (fixed horizontal jib), luffing jib (jib moves up and down), and self-erecting (portable, quick setup). Each suits different site conditions — hammerhead for open sites, luffing jib for congested urban areas, self-erecting for smaller projects.
However, tower cranes and their sub-types are not currently available on Desi Machines. For tower crane requirements, contractors work directly with specialized rental companies.
Which cranes are best for industrial use?
Industrial applications — factories, warehouses, manufacturing plants — typically require overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and jib cranes. These are fixed installations designed for repetitive lifting operations inside facilities.
Overhead cranes and gantry cranes are not currently available on Desi Machines. For industrial crane installations, contractors work with specialized manufacturers and system integrators.
For mobile lifting needs in industrial settings — loading trucks, moving equipment during installation, maintenance operations — Hydra cranes (pick-and-carry cranes) remain the practical choice. A 14-tonne Hydra handles most factory floor lifting requirements and can move between locations as needed.
Can mobile cranes work on all terrains?
Not all mobile cranes handle all terrains equally. The name tells you what each type is built for:
- Truck-mounted cranes: Need paved or well-prepared surfaces. The truck chassis isn’t designed for off-road conditions. Best for urban sites with road access.
- Rough terrain cranes: Built specifically for unprepared sites — construction zones, rural areas, uneven ground. Large tyres, high ground clearance, four-wheel drive.
- All-terrain cranes: The hybrid option. Can travel on highways at speed AND handle off-road conditions. More expensive, but eliminates the need for separate transport.
- Crawler cranes: Tracks instead of wheels. Handles soft ground, mud, and uneven terrain without outriggers. But slow — typically transported to site on trailers.
In India, terrain varies dramatically. A site in Rajasthan’s sandy soil needs different equipment than a waterlogged site in Bengal during monsoon. *Mitti ka kaam ho ya pathar ka — machine sahi honi chahiye.* Check ground conditions before selecting crane type.
What is the smallest type of crane?
The smallest cranes include carry deck cranes (compact, low-profile mobile cranes) and small jib cranes (fixed cranes with rotating arms). Carry deck cranes typically range from 2–15 tonnes capacity and excel in confined spaces — inside buildings, on factory floors, in areas where larger cranes can’t maneuver.
Carry deck cranes are not currently available on Desi Machines. For small-capacity mobile lifting, the smallest Hydra cranes (9-tonne capacity) offer a practical alternative available through the platform.
